*I don't own Naruto or any of the characters in this story*
Sakura ran back to her apartment to pack. She took 3 scrolls out of her top drawer and laid them out on the floor. She began gathering extra cloths. She threw them down on one scroll. She paused for a moment 'it's going to be winter soon…I should pack some warmer things. I don't know where this mission will take me'. With that Sakura took a box out of her closet that she hadn't looked at since she arrived in Suna. Grabbing a coat, a tent made to keep out the cold, and a warm sleeping bag. She threw those on the scroll with the others. She made some hand signs, pressed down on the scroll and sealed everything in. She placed the scroll in her backpack and went to grab some kunai and other weapons. Once she sealed all of those away she gathered her medical supplies. 'Kakashi probably will refuse any help…like usual' Sakura smiled at the thought. She remembered feeling angry at Kakashi when she was younger for paying attention to the boys and ignoring her. She felt useless, until she finally met Tsunade. Tsunade showed her how to use her amazing chakra control for healing. And she also taught Sakura how to use those same techniques to gain inhuman strength. She loved helping people more than anything. But the first time she had to treat Kakashi for some minor injuries, she learned his distaste for hospitals. She finally found something she loved to do more than helping people…..torturing Kakashi. She felt it was well deserved payback for all the years he neglected her. She continued to use her new abilities to torture him until that one day a few years back.
FLASH BACK
Sakura was doing her clinic work and was bandaging up a civilian boys arm. The young boy had been playing 'ninja' when he fell and broke his arm. "You need to take it easy for a few weeks. No 'ninjas' for a while ok?" "….Yes Dr. Haruno" "You can call me Sakura, Amaru. When people call me Dr. Haruno it makes me feel old" There was a few minutes of silence while Sakura was finishing up Amaru's arm. "um….Sakura…" "Yes Amaru" "Do you like being a ninja" Sakura looked at him and smiled. "I do. A lot" "Isn't it scary?" She gave him a very serious look "Of course it is. We risk our lives every day to make sure people like you and your family live happily and safely. But being able to see you grow up and have a family of your own someday, that's what makes it worth it." Amaru smile and laughed making Sakura laugh with him "There you go Amaru, your all finished!" "Thank you Sakura" Sakura was handing Amaru a candy for being good when Ino burst in the door. "SAKURA THERE HAS BEEN AN ACCIDENT" "Where do you need me" "Emergency room 3" Sakura stood to go out of the room when Ino grabbed her arm "Sakura….It's Kakashi" Sakura moved quickly to the door. "SAKURA!" She turned around to see Amaru behind her. She looked at him. He could see the worry in her eyes. "Do your best Sakura. I know you can help him!" Sakura smiled "Thank you Amaru, I'll check up on you in a few days. Ino, please take Amaru to his mother in the waiting room" Sakura was quickly out the door and running down the hall towards her destination. 'Kakashi...'
Sakura quickly found the room she was looking for. She threw open the doors and pushed her way past all of the nurses who were currently running around the room following orders. "WE NEED TO STOP THE BLEEDING!" Sakura finally reached the bed and sharply inhaled a breath. She was not prepared for what she saw. Kakashi lying in bed unconscious, a huge gash across his chest and stomach. And the blood….the blood was everywhere. All over him, the bed, the floor, the nurses and Tsunade. 'Snap out of it Sakura, he needs you NOW' and with that thought Sakura jumped into action. "Tsunade-sama" Sakura called out to let the Hokage know she was there and ready for orders. "Sakura we need to get the bleeding under control" Sakura immediately jumped to action, placing her hands over his stomach, pumping chakra into his deep wound. They worked on him for hours. The bleeding had stopped and most of his wounds were closed up. Tsunade took her leave, instructing Sakura to get some rest and a nurse would contact her as soon as Kakashi woke up. But Sakura couldn't leave Kakashi's side. She pulled up a chair and waited. She reached over to Kakashi and grabbed his hand "Please be ok Kakashi-sensei…please" She started to sob and she squeezed his hand harder "pl-please don't leave me" Sakura was so exhausted, her chakra nearly gone. She finally passed out, his hand in hers. Their fingers intertwined.
'What was that noise? …There it is again! …..It sounds like someone is calling my name' Sakura's eyes shot open and she flew up out of her seat. She looked down to see Kakashi awake and looking at her confused. Then she realized…she was still holding his hand! She let go quickly, her face turning bright red. She finally spoke "How are you feeling Kakashi-sensei?" "Sore" "Are you in any pain?" "My abdomen a bit" Sakura placed her hands on Kakashi's stomach and released a little chakra into him, just searching his wound for anything needing immediate attention. 'Everything looks good. Wow, his stomach is really toned! …did I really just think that? He's my sensei for heaven's sake! I must just be tired. Yeah that must be it…." Her face turned read once more. Kakashi noticed 'was she just checking me out?' Her hands left him and Kakashi missed her warmth already 'what?' Kakashi thought to himself 'I must have lost too much blood' "There is still some healing that needs done, but I don't have enough chakra yet to work on you again. I'll have a few nurses come in and finish up. But in the meantime DO. NOT. MOVE!" Kakashi laughed at her stern face. "I mean it Sensei. You could tear your wounds open. We didn't have enough chakra to heal you completely after all we had to do to stop the bleeding. You were in pretty bad shape. You shouldn't take your situation so lightly." Kakashi searched her eyes. He saw past her anger and saw she was very worried and upset. He noticed her hair was a bit longer, and her forehead was no longer big. She had beautiful emerald eyes and a smile that would light up any room. She has curves now and was very attractive. He let out a sigh 'she really has grown up hasn't she?' He noticed she was still looking at him "Sakura" "Yes Sensei" "Please just call me Kakashi. I haven't been your sensei in years. We are equals now. Calling me sensei makes me feel old" "You'll always be my sensei Sensei." "I mean it Sakura. You have worked hard to get to where you are right now. You are highly respected by the village and you are my equal. There is no need to call me sensei anymore. Maybe we could even become friends." Sakura shot him a huge smile. This made Kakashi's heart beat faster. "I would really like that Kakashi" She reached out and squeezed his hand. This time it was his turn to blush.
END FLASH BACK
Sakura sealed the medical supplies in the last scroll. She grabbed one more scroll out of the drawer in case she needed to get Kakashi's stuff when they met up. She finished putting everything in her bag. She left her apartment and ran to the gates. Temari was already waiting for her. "Hey Temari" "Ready to go Sakura" "Let's head out" Sakura began to move forward but stopped when she noticed Temari wasn't following. "Temari?" "Sakura, I know that Kakashi means a lot to you, but keep a level head ok? I know you want to rush out there to make sure he is ok but we need to make sure we are safe to….do you understand?" Sakura sighed….'Temari really knows me to well' "I understand" Temari started moving forward "good, now let's go find your boyfriend" Sakura's face immediately blushed "MY WHAT!" Temari took off running before Sakura could catch up and murder her.